HCI on Society - P1

Society

Improved Usability

The improved usability of desktop Graphical User Interface, has made it easier to use more recent versions of Desktop Operating Systems being released. When they first came out, they were quite basic with a poor layout and design. Even though, it was still a visual graphical interface. Majority was still in words, which made it harder to learn and to use if you are a first timer.

The image above, is example of some Windows earliest OS's this is Windows 2.0. As you the icons aren't quite clear of what they are. So you can make it out by logic and others icon images are unique. As the GUI is simple, it could be made easier to use for the inexperienced users.

Image above, is example of Windows 7 OS. The icons are more graphical, they can be categorised to what you want to put each icon in and also more logical in relating the desktop icons to what they are. So you make it out clearly what icon is for what purpose.

However, the newer more recent versions have become more graphical and visual. This makes a lot easier to use. Another aspect, of how desktop GUI’s have improved the usability is by including new features which actually helps the user to work more efficiently, but with having to go through a great deal of process in order to do it. Example of this would be a newly added feature in Windows 7 called Snap. This allows the user to simultaneously put two windows together, whilst viewing them both on the screen.

 As you can see both screens are open, but when you click on the window, the other one will still stay visible.















Reason why this is easier to use because for "Snap" you can select any two windows, then drag them opposite from each other. Off the screen until they get automatically resized to fit half the screen. Where it does sound like a lot of steps to do in order to achieve this, its easier once shown and practised your-self, then having been told what to do.  Whereas, in previous OS such as Vista you had to manually resize your windows according to what size you want. Another problem is that the windows would over lay each other, causing you, to not be able the multiple windows which you have open.

The image above, is Windows XP OS and a common occurring problem which is "Overlapping Windows". As you can see, this would be the steps to only get where partially you would be by using snap. Having to manually resize the windows. So you can see all windows and still work on one, whilst viewing the others.

Specialised Interfaces
Specialised interfaces would be considered for multiple reasons of which who have disabilities/ disorders or the experienced users who want more of a challenge.

Firstly, for disability/ disordered users who may be visually impaired. There are features which meet the needs of this like Magnifier glass, so someone has weak vision they can zoom in on the text. Someone is colour blind, they can change the colour of the text accordingly to what they want.

Then, the other types of GUI would be ones that could take more time to get used to, but are for the more confident users. Example of these types of Desktop Graphical User Interfaces would be some of the free ones such as Linux – Ubuntu.

Complexity

The complexity of Desktop GUI has gotten simpler with newer and more recent versions coming out. They are becoming used to making their products, for novice users rather than the experience/ expert side. However, different OS’s have a different usability rating than others. For instance, Windows’s GUI would have a higher usability rating than others, as it one the most common operating system and has a larger audience/ user base which is why they have to make it very user friendly. 

Whereas, other popular brands of Operating Systems like MAC OS (Lion, Leopard) and Ubuntu are still relatively easy to use, but its the concept of changing what OS that you have gotten used to, to then changing to a whole different layout and design to what are usually familiar with. Then understanding and getting around the complexity of the OS and the GUI its self. Overall, the complexity for Desktop GUI’s having become more simpler throughout the times.